Bama Bloggers Abroad
The Chart of Emotions during Study Abroad
During your study abroad, orientation you will probably be told about the emotional curve that is associated with students’ feelings during their study abroad trip. I remember looking at this chart...
Anxieties before takeoff and how to solve them
I can recall scrolling through Pinterest for hours typing the words “London Summer Fashion” repeatedlyin the search bar trying to ensure I had the right wardrobe to fit in. Thousands of worries...
A love Letter to Snells Beach, New Zealand:
The absolutely breathtaking view and chilling blue water made the fact that I had to sit down and do a little bit of computer work better. The sailboats docking in the harbor with the beautiful...
Creating Life-Long Friendships
I chose to study abroad in Australia for its beautiful nature, but I did not realize that what I would miss most were the people. Upon arriving in Australia, I met a group of international...
My Favorite Places in Brisbane
I decided to go to Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia for my study abroad. Here are some things I fell in love with about the area of Brisbane: For my semester, I lived in...
Packing for Multiple Locations with Different Climates
This summer, I participated in multiple study abroad programs, back to back. One was in Florence, Italy and the other was in Copenhagen, Denmark. When preparing for these programs, I had to pack...
UA in Florence – Visiting Rome during a three day weekend
While I was studying abroad this summer in Florence, Italy, my friends and I loved to travel on the weekends. We knew that we had to make it to Rome, and decided to go there on our three-day weekend...
Chemical Engineering Unit Ops Lab in Denmark
This summer, I had the opportunity to take the Unit Operations Lab for chemical engineering majors at Denmark Technical University in Copenhagen. The Unit Ops lab is very well known as one of the...
Day Trip to Bruges
Wrapping up accounting study abroad in Europe, we took a day trip to Bruges, Belgium, from Paris. It is a beautiful city, we took a bus there in the morning and had to get out and walk around the...
Artificial Reef Building on South Water Caye
There was a variety of research projects to participate in on our trip to Belize. There was a "Plastics Team" that recorded quantities of microplastics in the water near several islands. "Team...
Don’t Be Afraid to Be a Tourist (At Least Some)
Adventures in Belize: Post-trip reflections
I am incredibly glad that I decided to go on the trip, and if you’re reading this and you're considering going, I highly encourage you to do so. Especially if your passion involves the ocean, or...
Adventures in Belize: During the trip
One of my first impressions was simply awe at the natural beauty and numerous wonders of Belize. I loved drawing and painting my surroundings, especially all of the beautiful wildlife that I was...
Adventures in Belize: Pre-departure and Arrival
Hello! My name is Meg Dooley and I am a biology major here at Alabama. When I initially declared my major, I was intending on being Pre-med, and going into medicine. While walking around campus one...
Reflecting on Four Months at Sea
Now that I’ve had time to fully reflect on my time abroad and recover from my study abroad “hangover” I can say that my experiences were more than anything I could’ve ever hoped for. I went on the...
Sunset in Nihon
My Time in Oxford
As soon as it began I was in awe, and what a time it was. From the 2nd of July to the 26th of July I was in Oxford, England. The most important area of concern before the trip had even begun was...
The London School of Economics – First Day in London!
Today marks the first day of my study-abroad trip to London, England! I’m taking a class in Econometrics at the London School of Economics (LSE) this August, and I just arrived in my dorm room where...
Seven Nights In Phuket: UA in Thailand 2/3
Our study abroad group in front of James Bond Island in the Phang Nga Bay Hey, it’s me again. If you didn’t catch my last entry, I’m Connor Higgins (far right in the photo above), and I’m writing...
Fourteen Nights in Bangkok: UA in Thailand 1/3
Our study abroad group (seated) with Dr. Paan Jindapon (back row, second from left) and our hosts for "Thailand 101" at Bangkok University. Hello! My name is Connor Higgins. I'm seated on the far...
Five Nights In Chiang Mai: UA In Thailand 3/3
Our study abroad group at a coffee farm in northern Chiang Mai Hello again! I’m Connor Higgins (second from left above), and this is my last entry on UA in Thailand: International Economics. If you...
Reflecting on My Journey
It was finally time for me to depart Europe. I made my final journey to the airport, dragging my suitcases behind me on the cobblestone walkways. Next thing I knew, I was in the air on my way back...
Meeting My Long Lost Family in Ireland
My Goodbye to London, England
Today was my final day at the London School of Economics, and truthfully, it was a sad one! My three weeks in London went by far too quick, and while I saw everything (and everyone) I had hoped to,...
Portugal’s Hidden Piece of Paradise
One of the neatest experiences I had in Portugal was when I signed up for an all-day excursion to the Peneda-Geres National Park. Since I wasn't staying in downtown Porto I caught an Uber to the...
An Unexpected Adventure
An Unexpected Adventure I have just arrived back in the states after a 3-week study abroad trip in Porto, Portugal and there is just so much to unpack (however, not physically, because my luggage is...
Surprise Outcomes after Greece
When you're about to study abroad or cross any sort of ocean, there's an implication from others that you come back changed. After all, you're visiting parts of the world with different histories,...
Reflection
I have just returned from my summer travels in Croatia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, and I am returning to school in Tuscaloosa in a week and a half. Traveling in Asia has even further...
Resuming Life at Home
Now that I've been home for a few weeks, I've experienced a return to normalcy in my life. I'm over my period of sadness and wistfulness, and can properly reflect on my time there without my...
Guatemala in Review
Culture Shock
To Boldly Go Where No Student Has Gone Before!
Adios, Madrid!
It has been two months since I have returned from Madrid. I had the most amazing time. I made so many new friends and I learned so many new things. One thing that really stood out to me was how...
Back in the USA
When I was preparing to go abroad a few months ago, I read a lot about how coming back to your home country can cause a flood of emotions, and they were certainly right. My journey home started with...
reminiscing
When I think about my time in Italy, I think about the warm Mediterranean sun and the sweet friends I shared gelato with. Thinking about it feels like a dream and I almost can’t believe it was me...
In Transit
London, June, 2023 Every weekday morning at 8:30 AM I'd join a couple flat mates on a walk to the tube station. We'd board our train at 8:36 and patiently ride thirty minutes to university. People...
See Food
While some people travel for exciting new cities and stunning views, I always prefer the food. Not to say that the cities I visited weren't exciting and the views weren't stunning, but, in my...
A Macro View of Croatia
When I first saw an email with the subject line, "Principles of Macroeconomics in Croatia," I was perplexed. "Of all the subjects in all the places, why would it possibly be advantageous to...
Layovers and Lattes: The Start of My European Adventure
Even though I am a fairly anxious person, I prefer to do my packing last minute. I feel like the adrenaline rush provided by the idea that I might miss my flight really helps to expedite the...
My Biggest Takeaways from the Best 3 weeks!
I have improved by leaps and bounds in my problem-solving abilities and cultural curiosity. Though I'd like to describe myself as flexible and having a “go with the flow” type personality, sometimes...
Journey to LEGOLAND
Going to LegoLand has been a lifelong dream of mine as a self-proclaimed Master Builder. My sister and I always built forts made out of Legos in our backroom, just big enough for my dad to trip over...
A Reflection From One Week Since My Return to the USA
It's been a little more than one week since I returned from my month-long study abroad trip in Northern Italy. When I arrived home, I was thankful to see my family, and I was thankful to have many...
Proud to be an American
I have travelled before, but I have never felt the same way about leaving home as I did on my study abroad trip. My study abroad trip was by far the longest I have ever spent away from home. It was...
“Living” Abroad
I’ve been on vacation in foreign countries before, but I have never actually “lived” in a foreign country for an extended period of time. Upon arriving in Porto, Portugal, we headed to our apartment...
Expectations and Advice for Study Abroad Students
One of the biggest concerns I had in studying abroad was the food. I have always been a picky eater, and I was worried that I was going to be miserable and hungry all the time because the food would...
Porto, Portugal
I did not expect to love Porto, or Portugal, as much as I did, but I absolutely loved the food, culture, and people. When we first arrived, our dormitory arrangements were not in the central part of...
My Experience at EIA – Week Three
Me and my amazing team Palácio da Bolsa, where we gave our final presentations The start of the awards ceremony A New Member, and One Final Push to the End As I referenced in my last post, we lost...
My Experience at EIA – Week Two
(Top Left) A view of Lisbon Cathedral and Saint Vincent, the patron Saint of Lisbon (Top Middle) One of the many alleyways that flow through Lisbon (Top Right) A small view of Lisbon's skyline, near...
My Experience at EIA – Week One
The European Innovation Academy Before I begin to share my experience here in Porto, I think it's important to establish what the "European Innovation Academy" is all about. For those unaware, the...
A Week of Service Learning in Ghana
Recently I spent one week in Sunyani, Ghana doing service learning as a part of UA in Ghana. Being a French major, my service learning placement was shadowing a French teacher at a local Montessori...